Valve mechanism for flush tanks



April 3, 1956 J. w. BRASWELL, JR

VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed Jan. 25, 195 -1 I N VEN TORATTORNEY United States Patent 2,740,129 VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUSH TANKSJames Walter Braswell, Jr., Swansbero, N. C. Application January 25,1954, Serial No. 405,701 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-57) My invention relates tovalve mechanism for flush tanks, such as toilet flush tanks and thelike. 7

A primary object of the invention is to provide flush tank apparatuswhich will operate to discharge the flushing water from the tank bymerely pressing a push button on the outside of the tank with thefingertip.

A further object is to provide a float operated flushing valve fortoilet flush tanks, held closed or seated when the tank is filled due toair pressure upon the surface of the water, within a chamber orreceptacle receiving the float, the air pressure within said chamberholding the water level low enough so that the float will not bewaterborne, until the trapped air is allowed to escape from the chamber.

Another object is to provide a flush valve of the above mentionedcharacter which opens and closes slowly and which is substantiallynoiseless.

A further object is to provide a flush valve which is guided inalignment with the valve seat during operation, so as to seat accuratelyand positively when closed, thus eliminating wasteful leakage.

A further object is to provide a flush tank mechanism composed of aminimum number of simplified parts, which are sturdy and durable inconstruction, longlasting, easy to service or maintain, and cheap tomanufacture.

A still further object is to provide a flush valve mechanism which maybe manually operated for flushing a single toilet fixture or operatedautomatically at desired and controllable time intervals for flushing aplurality of interconnecting fixtures in public wash rooms or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a plan view of flush tank mechanism embodying my presentinvention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts in section, and partsbroken away,

Figure 3 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section throughthe flush valve and associated elements,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4-4of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged central vertical section through a filterelement and associated parts connected in the compressed air releaseline, in accordance with a modification of the invention, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of float operated valve meansin accordance with another modification of the invention.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred embodiments of my invention, attention is directed first toFigures 1 to 4 inclusive, wherein the numeral 10 designates generally aflush tank for toilets, or the like. The tank 10 includes a forward sidewall 11 and a bottom wall 12, as shown. A discharge or flushing pipe 13has its upper portion engaging through an opening 14, formed centrallyin the bottom wall 12 of the tank. The top end of the pipe 13 projectssomewhat above the bottom wall 12, and is flared conically as at 15 toform a conically tapered valve seat for a rubber flush valve, to bedescribed. The pipe 13 is screw threaded near its point of passagethrough the opening 14, for the reception of a nut 16, as shown.

A conventional overflow trap 17 receives the upper portion of the pipe13, as shown in .the drawings, and the pipe is provided within theoverflow trap 17 with a slot 18, below the conical valve seat 15. Theconicalvalve seat or portion 15 is seated within a conical opening 19 inthe top wall of the overflow trap 17, as shown. Compressible gaskets ofrubber or the like are interposed between the bottom of the overflowtrap 17 and bottom wall 12, and between the nut 16 and bottom wall 12,as shown at 20 and 21. When the nut 16 is tightened, the overflow trap17 is drawn down tightly upon the gasket 20 for forming a liquidtightseal about the opening 14, and the gasket 21 is also compressed forsealing this opening. The overflow trap 17 and flushing pipe 13 are thusrigidly anchored to the bottom wall 12 of the tank. The usual upstandingvertical overflow pipe 22 is provided, and has its lower end rigidlyconnected with the top of the trap 17 and communicating therewith. Thetop end of the overflow pipe 22 terminates near and below the top of thetank 10 and is open, so that the water level in the tank 10 can neverrise above the top of the overflow pipe.

A vertical water inlet pipe 23 extends through an opening in the bottomwall 12 of the tank, near one end of the same, and is rigidly securedtherein by conventional means, as indicated at 24', Figure 2. The inletpipe 23 extends for a substantial distance above the bottom wall 12, asshown, and a conventional float operated water inlet control valve 24 ismounted upon the upper end of the inlet pipe 23. The opening and closingof the water inlet valve 24 is controlled by a float ball 25, whichfloats upon the water in the tank 10, and the float ball 25 is securedto a generally horizontal rod or arm 26, in turn operatively secured tothe operating linkage or mechanism of the inlet valve 24, as shown. Thevalve 24, float 25 and associated elements are of conventional andwellknown construction, and need not be described in further detail. Thevalve 24 also carries a depending vertical water outlet pipe 27, rigidlysecured thereto, and the lower discharge end of this pipe preferablyterminatesnear and above the bottom wall 12 of the tank. As is wellknown, when the water level in the tank 10 drops, due to passage of thewater through the flush pipe 13, the float 25 is lowered, and the inletvalve 24 is opened to admit water from the pipe 23. This water isdischarged from the valve 24 downwardly, through the pipe 27 to fill thetank. As the water level in the tank again raises, the float 25 iselevated for gradually closing the inlet valve 24. A tube 28 leads fromthe water inlet valve 24 to the top of the overflow pipe 22, in theusual manner, and the purpose of this tube is to supply water throughthe overflow trap 17 and pipe 13 in suflicient quantity to maintain thetrap in the toilet bowl, not shown, filled with water after flushing.

My improved flush valve mechanism proper comprises an invertedcylindrical cup or sleeve 29 of considerable length, arranged verticallywithin the tank 10, directly above the flush pipe 13. The cup 29 has atop wall 30, integral therewith, and its lower end is open, and spacedsomewhat above the overflow trap 17, as shown. The cup 29 is provided atits lower end and in its side wall with a notch 31, for a purpose to bedescribed. The lower end of the cup 29 preferably has depending legs 32rigidly secured thereto, and resting upon the top of the trap 17. Thecup or sleeve 29 is rigidly connected with the.

vertical overflow pipe 22 by means of suitable brackets 33, arrangednear its upper and lowerends.

A cross bar or bracket 34' is rigidly mounted within the cup 29,somewhat below its longitudinal center, and the bracket 34 ishorizontally disposed, as shown. A vertical guide sleeve 35 ofconsiderable length is dependingly rigidly secured to the bracket 34, inaxial alignment with the tapered valve seat 15. The guide sleeve 35'slidably receives a vertical rod or stem 36, having a rubber flush valveelement 37 rigidly secured to its lower end, and a cylindrical float 38rigidly secured to its top end, above the bracket 34. The rubber valve37 may be of conventional and well known construction, and this valve isadapted to be guided into accurate registration with the seat 15 by thecoaction of the rod 36 with the guide sleeve 35. The cylindrical float38 is slightly smaller in diameter than the cup 29, and the float 38 isfreely movable longitudinally or vertically within the cup 29, above thestationary bracket 34. A compressed air discharge tube or pipe 39 isconnected in an opening in the top wall 30 of the cup 29, as indicatedat 40. The tube 39 may extend a slight distance vertically above the cup29, and then horizontally toward the end of the tank having the inletvalve 24 and associated elements therein. Near this end of the tank 10,the tube 39 is directed forwardly toward the tank wall 11, as shown, andthe tube 39 is disposed near the top of the tank, and above the top ofthe overflow pipe 22.

The front wall 11 of the tank has an opening 41 formed therein,receiving a tubular valve casing or sleeve 42, Figure 4. The forward endof the valve sleeve 42 has an enlarged head 43, integral therewith whichbears against the outer side of the tank wall 11. The valve sleeve 42 isscrew threaded at 44, inwardly of the wall 11, for the reception of anut 45. A suitable gasket 46 is arranged between the nut 45 and tankwall 11, as shown, and the valve sleeve 42 is thus fixedly securedwithin the opening 41. The valve sleeve 42 contains an internaltransverse web or wall 47, integral therewith, and provided with aconical opening 48, forming a valve seat for a conically tapered valveelement 49. The valve element 49 is rigidly secured to a valve stem 50,surrounded by a compressible coil spring 51, within the bore of thevalve sleeve 42. A push putton 52 is rigidly secured to the forward endof the valve stem 50, and slidably received within the bore of thesleeve 42, as shown. The push button 52 normally projects forwardly ofthe head 43, as shown, and the spring 51 has one end engaging the pushbutton, and its other end engaging the internal web 47. The spring 51normally maintains the valve element 49 seated, and the push button 52in its forwardmost position, shown in Figure 4. A small port 53 in theside wall of the valve sleeve 42, forwardly of the web 47 is providedfor releasing air or entrained water from the bore of the sleeve 42.

The inner or rear screw threaded end of the valve sleeve 42 carries ascrew threaded coupling member 54, having a reduced tubular extension 55which is externally screw threaded. The extension 55 has its rear endconically tapered at 56 for engaging within and spreading the adjacentend of the tube 39, as shown in Figure 4. The bore of the extension 55communicates directly with the tube 39, and with the bore of the valvesleeve 42. A nut or fitting 57 has screw threaded engagement with theextension 55, and serves to draw the flared end of the tube 39 intotight engagement with the tapered end 56 of extension 55.

The operation of the flush valve mechanism is as follows:

When the tank 10 is filled with water, up to the proper level, ascontrolled by the float ball 25, the flush valve 37 is seated upon thevalve seat 15.

As the water level within the tank 10 rises, it will of course also tendto rise within the cup 29, since the lower end of this cup is open.However, due to the'fact that the valve 49 is closed, the air within thecup 29, above the water level is trapped in the top of the cup andcompressed. This trapped air acting upon the surface of the watertending to rise in the cup 29 holds the water level down below the float38, and accordingly, the float 38 is not waterborne when the tank 10 isfilled, so long as the push button valve 49 remains closed. Since thewater level in the cup 29 cannot rise sufficiently to buoy up the float38, as previously stated, the valve 37 will remain seated or closed, dueto its own weight and the weight of the stem 36 and float 38.

When it is desired to discharge the water from the tank 10 for flushingthe toilet fixture, the push button 52 is depressed with the fingertip,and the valve 49 is unseated. This permits the trapped air in the cup 29to escape through the tube 39 and escape port 53. The air escapes slowlyfrom the port 53 and the air pressure above the water level inside ofthe cup 29 slowly decreases. As this occurs, the water level within thecup 29 moves upwardly and the water begins to surround the float 38.When the water level in the cup 29 is sufficiently high, the float 38will become waterborne and move upwardly within the cup 29. This causesthe valve 37 to rise from the seat 15, thus allowing the water in thetank 10 to discharge through the pipe 13. Upward movement of the float38 and valve 37 is limited by contact of the valve 37 with the lower endof the guide sleeve 35, as shown in broken lines in Figure 3.

As the water level in the tank 10 recedes, water is retained in the cup29 by the vacumn created in the top of the cup, as the water attempts topass downwardly or flow from the bottom of the cup, the valve 49 nowbeing closed by release of finger pressure on the button 52. The valve37 will be held open by the float 38 until the water level in thetank-recedes to the level of the notch 31. When this occurs, air willrush into the cup 29, through the notch 31, and break the vacumn withinthe top of the cup 29, releasing the water from the cup and lowering thefloat 38. This causes the valve 37 to be seated or closed.

The tank 10 is now refilled with water by the conventional means abovedescribed, and as the water level within the tank 10 again rises air istrapped and compressed within the top of the cup 29, and the water levelin the cup 29 is held by the trapped air below the level of the float38. The float 38 accordingly is not waterborne, and the valve 37 willremain seated or closed by gravity. The above cycle of operation may berepeated as often as desired.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, I have shown means for accomplishing theautomatic operation of my flush valve mechanism in controllable timeintervals. Instead of the] push button valve means shown in Figure 4, ashort section of tubing 58 leads from the top 30 of the cup or sleeve29, as shown. The tube 58 is preferably above the highest water levelwithin the tank 10.= An enlarged portion 59 of the tube 58 forms ahousing for a filter or strainer 60, which is intended to remove foreignparticles from the air in the tube 58, which particles might clog thesmall air escape port of the tube 58, to be described. The enlargement59 of the tube 58 carries a cup 61, having a reduced top extension 62,provided with a small air escape port 63, located near the top of thetank 10, not shown in Figure 5.

In operation, air is trapped beneath the top 30 of cup 29, as abovedescribed. This air leaks slowly through the small port 63, allowingwater to gradually enter and rise within the cup 29, slowly lifting orbuoying up the float 38, which of course unseats the valve 37. Theflushing of the toilet fixture now takes place, as the water from thetank passes through the pipe 13.

When the tank 10' empties down to the level of the bottom of the cup 29,the valve 37 closes automatically, as above described, and as the waterlevel in the tank againrises, air will be trapped in-the top of the cup,29

much faster than it can escape through the small port 63. This will holdthe water level in the cup 29 down below the level of the float 3S, andthe valve 37 will be closed or seated by gravity.

This cycle of operation will repeat itself automatically, and the timeinterval between flushings will be dependent upon the volume of the tankIt), the rate of flow of fresh water into the tank, and the size of theescape port 63. The volume of water entering the tank may be regulatedby a manual valve, not shown, connected in the pipe 23 at any desiredpoint. When this arrangement is used, the float operated valve 24 andassociated elements are not used, and the pipe 23 opens directly intothe tank 10. The time interval between automatic flushings is thusregulated for a given capacity tank and an escape port 63 of given size,by adjusting or setting the flow of water into the tank 10 from the pipe23.

All other parts of the apparatus remain identical with those shown anddescribed in connection with the first form of the invention, Figures 1to 3.

The above arrangement for automatic flushing will be particularly usefulin connection with toilet fixtures in public washrooms and the like,where they may be installed individually or interconnected in groups, asis well known. In either event, the public toilet fixtures will flushautomatically at desired time intervals with my above describedarrangement, including the elements shown in Figure 5.

In Figure 6, I have shown modified means for rendering the apparatusautomatic and repetitive in operation. This means, in Figure 6, maycomprise a stationary bracket or arm 64, rigidly secured to the innerside of the tank wall 11, as shown, near and above the highest waterlevel within the tank. A push button operated valve 65, which may beidentical in construction and operation with the push button valve shownin Figure 4 is rigidly secured to the horizontal portion of the bracket64, in a vertical position with the push button 52 arranged uppermostand above the bracket 64, as shown. The identical tube 39 shown in thefirst form of the invention may lead to the lower end of the push buttonvalve 65 and be connected therewith, as shown. The tube 39, as in thefirst form of the invention, leads to and is connected with the top 30of the cup 29, not shown in Figure 6.

An elevated extension or arm 66 of the bracket 64 has pivoted thereto at67 for vertical swinging movement, a float operated armor lever 68,carrying a float 69. The lever 68 has an operating extension 70 integralwith, and arranged above the push button 52 for depressing the same whenthe float 69 is elevated, due to the rising water level within the tank10.

As the water level in the tank 10 rises during filling of the tank, thefloat 69 will be elevated, and the lever extension 70 will depress thepush button 52, Figure 6, allowing air from the top of the cup 29 toescape through the tube 39 and escape port 53 of valve 65. When thisoccurs, the water level rises in the cup 29 and surrounds the float 38,lifting the valve element 37 from its seat. The flushing operation nowtakes place, as described previously, and as the water level in the tank10 recedes, the float 69 is lowered and the extension 70 is elevated forreleasing the push button 52. This immediately closes the escape valve65, and the above described vacuum will be formed in the top of the cup29, as the water level begins to drop rapidly therein. The float 38 willcontinue to be supported or buoyed up until the receding water levelreaches the notch 31. At this time, the valve element 37 will close, aspreviously described and the water level within the tank 10 will rise.Air will again be trapped in the top of the cup 29, and the water levelin the cup will be held down below the level of the float 38, so thatthe valve element 37 will remain seated. When the water level in thetank approaches its highest point, the float 69 will be elevatedsufliciently to again depress the pushbutton 52, and the cycle ofoperation will repeat itself automatically.

The time interval between flushings will depend upon the volumn of thetank. The water level is determined by the setting of float 69, and bythe amount of water entering the tank, which in turn may be regulated bya manually adjustable valve connected in the pipe 23. As with theconstruction of Figure 5, the conventional float operated valve 24 andassociated elements are not required, and the pipe 23 may be equippedwith a manually adjustable valve which opens directly into the tank 10,and regulates the rate of flow of water into the tank. All other partsof the apparatus remain identical with those shown and described inconnection with the first form of the invention, Figures 1 to 3.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

Valve mechanism for flush tanks and the like comprising in combination amember secured to the bottom of the tank and having a valve seat and alarge unobstructed outlet passage for the water in the tank adjacent thevalve seat, a substantially vertical overflow pipe secured to saidmember and extending above the same and spaced from one side of thevalve seat and passage, said passage leading vertically downwardly fromsaid valve seat, an upstanding sleeve arranged within the tank abovesaid member and valve seat and substantially concentric with the valveseat and having a top wall, the lower end of said sleeve being open andspaced above the member and valve seat, means carried by the side wallof the sleeve and engaging the overflow pipe for securing the sleevethereto, a bracket mounted within said sleeve intermediate its ends andextending transversely thereof and including a tubular guide part insubstantial axial alignment with the valve seat, a valve stem engagingthrough said guide part and extending above and below the bracket andmovable toward and from the valve seat, a valve element secured to thelower end of the valve stem below said tubular guide part and engageablewith the valve seat to cover the same when the stem is lowered, a floatsecured to the upper end of the valve stem above said bracket anddisposed within the sleeve, and air escape means connected with the topwall of the sleeve to permit air trapped within the top portion of thesleeve to escape and thereby allowing the Water level Within the sleeveto rise for elevating the float, valve stem and valve ele ment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS926,155 Walls June 29, 1909 1,186,091 Harmon June 6, 1916 1,247,211 BossNov. 20, 1917

